The Football League Group Cup was a short-lived football competition which first took place during the 1981–82 season. For English clubs it was a replacement for the Anglo-Scottish Cup, which had been discontinued due to the withdrawal of Scottish League clubs. For the 1982–83 season it was renamed as the Football League Trophy.[1]

It is considered as the forerunner of the Associate Members' Cup (which was later renamed the Football League Trophy, and has had various sponsored names), which commenced from the 1983–84 season,[1] although some sources regard the Football League Group Cup as the same competition.[2][3]

Format

In each season there were 32 participants, split into eight regional groups of four teams each, with three round-robin games played by each side. The eight group winners qualified for the quarter finals, and the knockout stages were played as a single leg, with the game going to extra time and penalties if necessary. The final was played on the home ground of one of the two teams.[4]

1981–82

Participants

The following 32 sides played in the competition, and these are sub-divided according to the League division they played in that season.[4]

The tournament was won by Grimsby Town, who defeated Wimbledon 3–2 in the final at Blundell Park[2] on Tuesday 6 April 1982.[4]

1982–83

Participants

The following 32 sides played in the competition, and these are sub-divided according to the League division they played in that season.[5]

Final

The tournament was won by Millwall, who defeated Lincoln City 3–2 in the final at Sincil Bank[2] on Wednesday 20 April 1983.[5]

References

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Group_Cup